Combined sealing medium and cuff for an artificial respirator housing opening



p 15, 1953 L. D. LUCK ET AL COMBINED SEALING MEDIUM AND CUFF FOR AN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATOR HOUSING OPENING Filed May 26, 1950 B K H 3 S00 N RUN R G 0L we I K T F MD Mum FIG.4

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 COMBINED SEALING MEDIUM FOR AN ARTIFICIAL ING OPENING AND CUFF RESPIRATOR HOUS- Lucille D. Luck, Lima, Pa., and Gertrude K. Norby,

Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to Strato Equipment Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 26, 1950, Serial No. 164,424

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting artificial respiration and more particularly to a device for use with respirators commonly known as iron lungs, the iron lung being a chamber which encloses at least the chest portion of the patient.

It is an object of our invention to provide a combined sealing medium and cuff for an opening in the housing of an artificial respirator and the like which will permit a nurse or other attendant to remove the cover of the opening and insert her arm into the opening for prolonged periods to perform necessary attending operations without any substantial loss of pressure within the housing and consequently without effecting the efiiciency of the respirator. Another object is to provide a novel and improved combined sealing medium and cuff for an opening in the housing of an artificial respirator and the like designed to effectively seal the respirator while attending operations are performed on the patient by a human arm inserted into the housing of the respirator and which will provide a maximum of freedom for movement of the arm while engaged in such operations.

Another object is to provide a combined sealing medium and cuff for the purpose described which will show little if any wear as a result of prolonged periods of use and which will not break away in large pieces when in worn condition to leave an imperfect seal about the arm inserted therethrough.

. Another object is to provide a combined sealing medium and cufi for an opening in the housing of an artificial respirator and the like which will accommodate an attendants arm irrespective of its size and at all times maintain an efiective seal thereabout and permit full freedom in movement thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an artificial respirator having two openings of the type described on its side and being provided with covers therefor;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of one embodi- 2 ment of our invention prior to application to the artificial respirator;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view or the same;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2 with the retaining ring added in section to show its positioning relative to the invention when in use;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of another embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 1 shows an artificial respirator indicated generally as R, having a pair of openings on its side to which our invention is adapted to be applied. The left hand opening of Fig. l is shown with the cover therefor closed and the right hand opening is shown with the cover in open position to reveal one embodiment of our invention properly mounted. Figs. 2, 3 and a show one embodiment of our invention which includes as shown an annularly formed plate member 6 which is relatively thick but substantially flat and made of a highly compressible material such as sponge rubber. This plate member 6 has a plurality of small apertures 1 adjacent its periphery to adapt the same for securing to the housing of the respirator R. The plate member 6 has a relatively large aperture 8 extending through its central portion and of a diameter larger than the diameter of a human arm. The plate member 6 is adapted to circumvent the opening 9 in the housing of the artificial respirator R. Secured to the inner surface of the plate member 6 is a thin highly flexible non-porous and elastic sheet 10. It has been found that a rubber composition such as neoprene is especially well suited for the purposes of our invention. This thin sheet It has a plurality of apertures ll adjacent its periphery which correspond and communicate with the apertures l in the plate member 6. As shown, the diameter of the sheet it is equal to the diameter of the plate member 6. Formed in the central portion of the sheet iii and communicating with the aperture 3 of the plate member 6 is an opening l2 which is of a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the plate member opening 8 and Which is substantially reduced relative to the diameter of the wrist of a human being. The periphery of the sheet Ill adjacent the opening [2 has formed the'reo'n'an outwardly turned bead [3. As best shown in Fig. 4 the sheet It and the plate member 6 are secured to the housing M of the respirator R by retaining ring 15 and a plurality of screws or bolts i6. Secured to the retaining ring i5 adjacent its lower portion by a conventional hinge is a cover [8. This cover I8 is adapted to swing upwardly into position against the plate member 6 and to be locked in sealing position by the cam action clamp I9 which is secured to the upper portion of the retaining ring 5.

The structure shown in Fig. 5 is formed simiiarly to the structure shown in Fig. 4 with the exception that a second plate member 2!! formed similarly to the plate member 6 and of equal dimensions is secured to the opposite side of the sheet member It. Thus we have two plate members with a sheet member In secured therebetween.

In operation, the entire unit shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is placed in position so that the sheet l lies adjacent the housing l4 and the communieating apertures i and H register with the apertures in the housing provided for the screws or bolts H5. The retaining ring i is then applied to the outer surface of the plate member 6 and the entire ring is tightened by means of the screws or bolts l6 so as to compress the plate member 5 tightly against the housing l4 and provide an eifective seal between the housing M and the retaining ring I5. Thereafter the unit is ready for efiicient operation. Normally, of course, the cover It is retained in closed position by the clamp l9. When it is desired to perform one of the various necessary operations often required while the patient lies within the respirator the attendant releases the door l3 and inserts his arm into the opening I2 of the sheet l0. Because of the narrow diameter of this opening [2 and the highly elastic nature of the sheet 10 and the impervious nature of the material from which the sheet I G is formed, a very effective seal is maintained about the arm of the attendant. This prevents a loss of pressure within the respirator and consequently prevents a diminishing of the efficiency of the operation of the respirator. The attendant may perform thenecessary operations with ease and without concern about the welfare of his patient. The highly flexible nature of the sheet Iii provides a maximum of freedom for the arm of the attendant in performing these operations. He is permitted at all times to move his arm in any direction desired and to partially withdraw or insert his arm soas to accomplish whatever desired movements are necessary. This is extremely important in the massaging of the various limb members of the patient, an operation of extreme importance for patients of the type which normally must use an artificial respirator, since such patients frequently suffer at least partial paralysis of their limbs. It has been found that massageof such members is one of the best treatments for their recovery and return to normal use.

The impervious nature of the sheet 10 to the gases within the artificial respirator R insures that very little if any of these gases will escape therethrough. This is a decided improvement over the use of the more porous substances such as sponge rubber, since these gases pass through such material relatively freely.

The bead l 3 on the sheet ill is designed to preclude tearing of the sheet and to effectively prolong the life term of the entire unit. It has been found in the use of other substances such as sponge rubber that after a short period of time the wear which results from the frequent insertion and withdrawal of the human arm through an opening provided in such material for that purpose results in large pieces of such material breaking off and permitting substantial amounts of the gases within the respirator to escape. The results of such deteriorating of such material of course requires frequent replacement. Also, when using such materials there is no provision for arms of various diameters. A person with an arm of small diameter is unable to use such a device since there would be a substantial loss of the gases. With our invention it does not matter what diameter the arm of the attendant is since it will readily adapt itself to arms of all sizes and at the same time maintain an effective seal thereabout.

The embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 5 is applied and used in the same manner as the embodiment shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This latter embodiment provides an effective seal and provides an equal amount of freedom for the attendant in performing his operations.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. A combined sealing medium and cuff for use in conjunction with an opening in the housing of an artificial respirator comprising a readily compressure plate member adapted to be secured to such a housing to circumvent such opening and. having an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with such housing opening when so secured, and a relatively thin but durable elastic sheet fixedly secured directly to said plate member and extending across said aperture of said plate member in a plane parallel and immediately adjacent to the plane of said plate member, said sheet being continuous except for having an opening therein adapted to snugly receive therethrough an adult humans arm whereby an effective seal may be maintained at all times about the arm of such a human when the same is inserted through such opening for the performance of necessary attending operations, said sheet opening communicating with said aperture of said plate member and with such housing opening when said plate member is so secured.

2. A combined sealing medium and cuff for use in conjunction with a cover for an opening in the housing of an artificial respirator and comprising, a relatively thick plate member made of foam rubber and adapted to be secured to such housing between it and such a cover to circumvent such opening and being of the same external diameter as the cover and having an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with such housing opening when so secured, said plate member having an inner surface and an outer surface relative to the housing when so secured, and a relatively thin but durable elastic sheet fixedly secured directly to the inner surface of said plate member and extending across said aperture of said plate member in a plane parallel and contiguous to the plane of said plate member, said sheet being continuous except for having an opening therein adapted to snugly receive therethrough an adult humans arm whereby an effective seal may be maintained at all times about such an arm while so inserted for the performance of necessary attending operations, said sheet opening communicating with said aperture of plate member and with such housing opening When said plate member is so secured, said plate member covering the major portion of said sheet to provide a protective cuff for the shoulder of such a human while his arm is inserted at full length into the interior of the respirator.

LUCILLE D. LUCK.

GERTRUDE K. NORBY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Drinker May 2, 1933 Drinker May 2, 1933 Sauzedde Oct. 25, 1938 Shoolman Jan. 7, 1941 Roy Jan. 19, 1943 Akerman Sept. 12, 1950 

